TARGA: Tragedy strikes TT30 on day two

The first full day of competition in the 30th running of Targa Tasmania was overshadowed by the tragic death of a driver on the longest stage of the day.

Targa officials confirmed last night that a male competitor died from injuries sustained in a single car accident on the Mt Roland stage late yesterday afternoon.

Police and emergency services were immediately called to the scene. However, the male driver did not survive the accident. His female navigator received non-life-threatening injuries.

A statement issued by Targa Tasmania officials said that police have not yet been given permission to release details of the persons involved.

Olivers Road on Mt Roland was closed while authorities carried out an investigation, and a report will be provided to the coroner.

“The thoughts of our entire Targa community are with our fellow competitor’s family and his loved ones at this extremely difficult time. We feel deeply for them all,” said Targa Australia CEO Mark Perry.

“We will work with Tasmania Police and Motorsport Australia to understand the full circumstances of the accident.”

Targa officials confirmed late last night the event will continue with non-competitive touring stages where drivers will be limited to the signposted speed limits on closed road sections.

“The change to downgrade the event to touring only was a difficult one for all of us to make but one that was necessary in the current circumstances as we work through this difficult time,” said Perry.

Yesterday’s tragic death follows three fatalities in last year’s Targa Tasmania, which sparked a significant Investigatory Tribunal that lead to improved safety measures being implemented for this year’s 30th anniversary event, including lowering the maximum speed for competition vehicles to 200km/h, a raft of course design changes and the allocation of four wet weather tyres on top of the maximum six tyres for each car.

“So much has been done to make this sport safer since our event 12 months ago but we have still lost a member of the Targa family, and we all need time to reflect,” Perry added.

Before the competition was halted, defending champion Eddie Maguire, driving a Dodge Viper ACR, set the fastest time on all six stages yesterday to extend his lead to 1min 23sec over Jeff Morton in a Porsche GT2 RS in the GT Outright category.

Angus Kennard and Tony Quinn, both driving Nissan GT-Rs, finished day two in third and fourth respectively while pre-race favourite Jason White, in another Dodge Viper ACR, clawed back into the top 10 after being forced to repair his car overnight after sliding into a kerb on the George Town prologue stage on Tuesday.

carsales Editor-in-Chief Mike Sinclair had a challenging day in the changing conditions as the team continued to battle with teething issues on the brand-new Dutton One Subaru WRX STi.

“That was a tough day at the office, made even more challenging with the tragic news of a fatal accident,” said Sinclair.

“From a competitor’s viewpoint, the safety-related changes made to the rules for 2022 have been comprehensive and made a lot of sense, but with all motorsport there’s inherent risk. The decision to downgrade the event is understandable.

“I’m sure I speak for the whole of our Dutton One team when I offer our sincere condolences to the affected crew’s family and friends, as well as the whole Targa extended ‘family’,” Sinclair stated. 

Sinclair’s Dutton One teammate and TV personality Grant Denyer and co-driver Ben Searcy was in sixth position in the GT Performance class, 2min 39sec behind category leader Benjamin Newman and Adam Kudra in another Subaru WRX STi.

Sinclair and co-driver Julia Barkley are expected to place seventh behind Denyer on derived time after stopping to assist other competitors who crashed on the tricky Paloona stage.

Image credit: Other Side Productions

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